Robbery suspect shot, wounded by police in exchange of gunfire in Southeast D.C.

By Jennifer Donelan, John Gonzalez
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WASHINGTON (WJLA) - A suspected robber was shot and wounded by police in an exchange of gunfire in Southeast D.C. late Tuesday night, authorities said.

Police indicated that an armed robbery of a woman outside a gas station preceded the shooting, which occurred in the 2500 block of Minnesota Avenue SE around midnight.

A Metropolitan Police officer shot the suspect in the leg after he fired several shots at police in an attempt to flee the area, investigators said.

The man was taken to a local hospital with non-serious, non-life threatening injuries. He was both conscious and breathing in the ambulance, authorities indicated.

Police said that no officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire.

Meantime, the 25-year-old woman who had her purse stolen at gunpoint said she felt fortunate to have survived the ordeal.

"He pulls a gun on me, he hoisted it at my chest and said, 'I am not going to tell you again to give me your purse,'" said the woman, whose identity is being withheld because she is a crime victim. "I really thought if I didn't give him my purse that he was definitely going to shoot me."